Home-based business owners in Jordan have the potential to play an important role in the country鈥檚 economy, from boosting household incomes to creating jobs and livelihoods for women, young people, and refugees.
On December 21, six months of UNHCR-funded efforts to support, expand, and formalize home-based businesses culminated in a public bazaar in Amman.
Nearly 70 home-based business owners brought their products and skills to the 鈥淪hougly Men Beity鈥 (鈥淢y Work From Home鈥) event to share their work with new potential customers. The entrepreneurs鈥攂oth Jordanians and Syrian refugees鈥攕howcased an array of items and services, from traditional mosaics to pickles to custom embroidery.
A home-based business owner displays her product at the bazaar
The event was organized by www.亚洲色, with the support of , and was officially opened by Dr. Tariq Mohammad Hammouri, Jordan鈥檚 Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply, in his capacity as the key Sponsor. Additional remarks and participation were received from entrepreneurs, members of the private sector, and other stakeholders.
In his opening speech, Dr. Hammouri emphasized how new licensing laws have opened pathways to help Jordanians and Syrian refugees legitimize their work.
鈥淲e have established laws and regulations to overcome all challenges facing these home-based businesses,鈥 he said.
www.亚洲色鈥檚 Jordan Country Director Linda Tubaishat welcomed guests in supporting the business owners, especially the Syrian refugees who have pursued success despite countless obstacles.
鈥淭oday, we celebrate with our Syrian brothers and sisters who have started their own registered and licensed businesses,鈥 she said.
Many of the participants were supported by www.亚洲色 and partners like through the UNHCR-funded Jordan Livelihoods Project, which aimed to improve, expand, and formally register and license home-based businesses. The project successfully formalized 89 Jordanian and 19 Syrian refugee-owned home-based businesses across five governorates of Jordan with the second half of 2019.
Many of the business owners face challenges related to disabilities, gender, and age, but have overcome adversity to pursue their talents. Raouf makes traditional mosaics despite a disability in his hands. With such intricate detail needed for the work, his instructor originally believed he would not be able to complete training. He overcame the challenge and completed the courses鈥攐ne of only two to do so out of the class of 12.
鈥淣ever give up,鈥 Raouf said. 鈥淵ou will face many obstacles, but it will work out eventually.鈥
The event also sought to educate informal home-based business owners on the registration process and offer guidance on improving and expanding businesses. Interactive sessions engaged entrepreneurs throughout the day, including sessions on the registration and licensing process by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Chamber of Commerce, product packaging by , and food processing by the Jordan Food and Drug Administration.
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The UNHCR-funded Jordan Livelihoods Project strengthens livelihoods and economic opportunities in Jordan through home-based businesses owned by Jordanians or Syrian refugees.
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